Health and Sickness - Mental and Physical Pain

Here you will learn some English words related to mental and physical pain such as "cramp", "ache", and "spasm".

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Health and Sickness
backache [noun]

a pain in someone's back

Ex: He could n't play football due to a severe backache .
colic [noun]

a condition in babies where they cry a lot and seem uncomfortable, usually because of stomach pain or gas

cramp [noun]

a sudden painful contraction in a muscle due to fatigue

Ex: She massaged her foot to relieve the cramp .
crick [noun]

a sudden, sharp pain or discomfort, often linked to muscle stiffness, commonly occurring in areas like the neck, back, or other parts of the body

Ex: Extended computer use may result in a crick in the shoulders .
earache [noun]

a pain inside the ear

Ex: If your earache is accompanied by a fever , you should see a doctor immediately .

a trauma caused by a physical reaction to electrical currents flowing through one's body

discomfort or fatigue in the eyes, often caused by prolonged reading, screen time, or other activities requiring intense visual focus

Ex: Symptoms of eyestrain include headaches , blurred vision , and dry eyes .

mild limb discomfort experienced by children during periods of rapid growth, typically between ages 3 and 12, though not directly caused by growth itself

Ex: Massaging the affected area can provide relief from growing pains .
headache [noun]

a pain in the head, usually persistent

Ex: I ca n't concentrate on this report ; I 've got a terrible headache .
lumbago [noun]

lower back pain, often characterized by discomfort, stiffness, or muscle tension in the lumbar region of the spine

Ex:

the sensation of tiny sharp points poking into the skin or a mild numbing feeling, often felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, caused when pressure is put on nerves

Ex: I had pins and needles in the tips of my fingers .

pain felt in a tooth or several teeth

Ex: He could n't eat his ice cream because of his toothache .

a condition characterized by painful involuntary movement or stiffness in the hand or forearm caused by excessive writing

Ex:
ache [noun]

a continuous pain in a part of the body, often not severe

Ex: My grandmother always complains about an ache in her leg .
agony [noun]

severe physical or mental pain

Ex: The agony of arthritis can make simple movements excruciating .
anguish [noun]

a state of extreme physical pain or mental distress

Ex: The mother 's face revealed the anguish of a parent watching their child struggle with a serious illness .

a feeling of pain or discomfort in a part of the body that is swollen or sensitive, often caused by allergens, chemicals, or injuries

a stabbing or burning pain along a nerve, often caused by irritation or damage to the nerve

Ex: Intercostal neuralgia can result in sharp pain between the ribs .
pang [noun]

a brief, intense physical pain or discomfort

Ex: The boxer winced with every pang of pain from the rib injury during the match .
smart [noun]

an intense, stinging physical pain or discomfort, usually caused by a wound or a fresh cut

Ex:
spasm [noun]

a sudden, uncontrollable tightening or contraction of a muscle

stab [noun]

a sudden, intense sensation of an emotion

Ex: The betrayal by her friend caused a sharp stab of sadness to overwhelm her .

the state of experiencing discomfort, distress, or hardship

Ex: His emotional suffering made it hard for him to focus on anything else .
throb [noun]

a steady or beating sensation of pain or discomfort, often like a heartbeat, commonly felt in areas like the head or muscles

torment [noun]

extreme amount of pain or distress experienced either physically or mentally

Ex: The character in the novel endured mental torment as he struggled with inner demons .
torture [noun]

extreme pain or distress inflicted upon someone, often deliberately and cruelly

Ex: The relentless teasing from her classmates felt like emotional torture .
twinge [noun]

a brief, intense sensation of discomfort or pain in a specific area of the body

Ex: The sudden movement caused a twinge in her shoulder .
griping [noun]

a sharp or intense pain in the stomach area, often because of digestive issues or menstruation

Ex:

a condition where sudden pressure changes cause nitrogen bubbles in the body, leading to symptoms like joint pain and fatigue

Ex: The bends , or decompression sickness , can be serious if not treated quickly .

damage to muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues that develops over time from repetitive movements, prolonged overuse, or sustained awkward posture during work or daily activities

Ex: He used a wrist splint and ergonomic keyboard to manage symptoms of a repetitive strain injury .

any discomfort or pressure felt in the chest area, that can be because of heart issues, digestive problems, or muscle strain

Ex: After a brisk walk , he experienced a sharp chest pain that subsided with rest .

discomfort or pain that arises from various structures in the mouth and face, including the jaw joints, muscles, teeth, nerves, and other related tissues

Ex: After the dental procedure , Mark was advised on how to manage the postoperative orofacial pain .